Feeding mechanism for sewing machines



Jan. 16, 1951 H. HACKLANDER FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES fit 7 m Filed Feb. 8 1949 gnaw/who Hans Jfaalander W Jan. 16, 1951 HACKLANDER 2,538,309

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Feb. 8, 1949 5 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 16, 1951 FEEDING MECHANISM'FOR -SEWING 'MACHINES Hans Hacklander, Linden, N. J., assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth,

J., a corporation of NewJersey Application February 8, 1949,Serial No.'7"5,113

17 Claims. 1

This invention relates to sewing machines and more particularly to feeding mechanisms for sewing machines of the type having feeding Wheels for cups for supporting and feeding the work to the stitching mechanism.

In hosiery sewing machines of this "type, the stitches are formed and set about a stitch-finger which is disposed in the line of feed immediately above the level of the 'co-operating feed-cups. The stitches when properly set on the rstitch finger tend to cling to the same and thereby afford a slight resistance to the uniform passage oi. the material through the machine. This results in an uneven distribution of stitches along the seam and also causes a puckering of the material adjacent the seam, the presence of which reduces the quality of the finished product.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a puller-feed mechanism having opposed feed-rollers which operate rearwardly of the stitching point to draw or pull the 'work through the machine at a uniform rate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple method of rotating the feedrollers in proper time with the usual feed-"cups.

Other advantages and beneficial results in operation will be apparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of !my invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation, partly in section, of aportion of a cup-feed sewing machine embody ing the improvement.

Fig.2 is a top plan view, partly in section, of a portion of the sewing machine, showing the alinement of the opposed puller-feed rollers with the stitch-finger.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view, partly in section, of a portion of the sewing machine, showing the belt-drive for the puller-feed rollers.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the inner feedcup and puller-feed roller, illustrating the adjustable support for the inner puller-feed roller.

Fig. 5 is an end' elevation of the outer feedcup and puller-feed roller, showing the preferred way of adjustably supporting the outer pullerfeed roller.

Fig. 6 represents a vertical section taken substantially along the lines 66, Fig. 2, with the addition of sheet-metal stripper members.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective View of the elements of the machine at and adjacent to the stitching point, illustrating the preferred location of the puller-feed and its action on a fragment of work passing through the machine.

Fig. :8 .ilustrates a modified form of bracket supporting the outer puller-feed roller, the bracket being made of two parts hinged together to'permit the outer puller-feed roller to be separated from the inner puller-feed roller without affecting "the cooperative relationship of the two feed-cups.

Fig. :9 is -a top plan view, partly in section, of the bracket shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged top plan view of the feed-rollers fitted with the sheet-metal strippers.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the feed-roller stripper.

Referring in 'detail to the drawings, the machine in which one embodiment of the invention is incorporated is constructed substantially in accordance with the disclosure in my U. S. Patent forming devices.

No. 2,277,970, dated March 31, 1942, and includes a machine-frame having a standard It) supporting an inner feed-cup II which cooperates with an outer feed-cup l2. The outer feed-cup I2 is carried onthe lowerend of a shaft l-3 journalled within a sleeve [4 depending from a manually-controlled pivotally mounted feedcup separating bracket l5 housed in a laterally projecting overhanging head 16 of the machine frame. As is common in machines of this type, thetwofeed-cups H and I2 are positively driven in synchronism, and are adapted to support and feed the material being sewn past the stitch- Considerable of the material now being used in the manufacture of womens hosiery is composed of very lightweight nylon, and to preclude :marking or damaging this material, the feed-cups H and I 2 are fitted with resilient work-engaging surfaces in the form of rubber bands I! and I8. These bands are preferably bonded to the feed-cups in order that they will rotate therewith.

The stitch-forming devices of the machine illustrated comprise a threaded needle [9 carried by a horizontally endwise reciprocatory needle-bar 20, an oscillatory threaded looper 2| and an oscillatory threaded spreader 22, the looper and spreader being mounted on separate rock-"shafts, as fully disclosed in my above mentioned U. S. Patent No. 2,277,970. The three stitching instrumentalities, namely, the needle 19, looper 2| and spreader 22 are properly actuated to effect the formation of a three thread overseam.

As is common in cup-feed sewing machines of the type disclosed, there is provided a stitchfi-nger 23 which overlies the feedcups II and I2 3 at the stitching point and about which the stitches are formed and set to minimize distortion of the marginal edges of the material being sewn. As shown in the accompanying drawings, the stitch-finger 23 is formed with an attenuated blade 24 projecting from a shank 25 which is apertured to receive two securing screws 26 threaded into the usual needle-guide 2'! disposed within the upturned peripheral flange of the inner feed cup l I. It will be understood that l the stitch-finger 23 is supported so that the under surface of its blade 24 is spaced slightly above the upper peripheral edge of the feed-cups l I and [2 at their point of cooperation, and that during sewing the top edges of the stocking blank S are pulled up into contact with the under surface of the stitch-finger by the tightening or setting of the stitches about the blade 24 of the stitch-finger. As fully explained in my U. S. Patent No. 2,362,267, the setting of the stitch on the blade 24 of the stitch-finger causes the stitch to cling slightly to the blade 24. The consequent resistance to the free passage of the stocking blank S through the machine is serious when the material of the stocking blank is of a flimsy nature, for the reason that the feed-cups H and I2 engage the material below the stitchfinger 23 and the force derived from the feedcups and effective for stripping the tightly set clinging stitches oil the stitch-finger blade must be transmitted through the material. Since the stocking material is of a stretchy nature and has little or no body it serves as a poor medium for transmitting the necessary force.

In an effort to overcome this feeding defect, I have devised a puller-feed device which functions to assist the feed-cups in advancing the stocking blank through the machine. The pullerfeed device comprises two feed-rollers 28 and 29 disposed on the discharge side of the feed-cups I l and I 2, the cooperating Work-engagingperipheries of which feed-rollers meet substantially along a vertical line which, as will be seen in Figs. 1 and '7, extends through the horizontal plane containing the longitudinal axis of the blade 24 of the stitch-finger 23. One of the advantages of having the feed-rollers arranged so that their line of cooperation extends above and below the longitudinal axis of the stitch-finger is that the feed-rollers exert a pulling force on the hosiery seam directly in line with the blade of the stitch-finger. The stitches formed on the stitch-finger are therefore pulled oil at a uniform rate and in a direction not to bend the delicate blade of the stitch-finger.

Preferably, the feed-rollers 28 and 29 consist of resilient material, such as rubber, neoprene, or the like, which material is bonded or otherwise attached to metal cores 39 and 3!. The core 30 of the inner feed-roller 28 is journaled on a bearing stud 32, which is threaded into the outer end of a supporting bracket 33 clamped, for limited vertical adjustment, against the frame-standard ID by a securing screw 34 which extends through an elongated hole 35 (Fig. 4) formed in the supporting bracket 33. The core 3! of the outer feedroller 29 is journaled on a bearing stud 39 which is threaded into the horizontal arm 31 of a supporting bracket 38 clamped, for vertical adjustment, by a screw 39 on a seat 40 provided on the outer feed-cup shaft sleeve [4. To provide for adjusting the outer feed-roller 29 relative to the inner feed-roller 28, the horizontal arm 31 has a tongue-and-groove connection with the lower end of the supporting bracket 38, a clamping screw 4| serving to secure the arm 31 in its proper adjusted position on the bracket 38.

The two feed-rollers 28 and 29 are adapted to be driven in synchronism with the feed-cups ll and i2 by a pair of belts 42 and 43 which derive their driving power from the feed-cups. It will be observed in Fig. 1 that the feed-cups H and I2, beneath the resilient fabric-engaging portions thereof, are formed as flanged belt-driving pulleys 44 and 45, and that the feed-roller core members 39 and 3! are grooved, as at 46 and 41, to receive the belts 42 and 43. For best results it has been determined that the feed-rollers 29 and 39 should be operated at a speed slightly faster than that of the feed-cups I and I2, thereby to maintain the stitched seam under a slight tension better to pull or strip the stitches all the free end of the stitch-finger blade 24. As will be seen in Figs. 1 and 4, the work-engaging peripheries of the feed-rollers 28 and 29 have parallel cylindrical portions which engage along a vertical line extending from a point below the extended longitudinal axis of the blade 24 of the stitch-finger to a point above said longitudinal axis. In other Words, the line of contact between the two feed-rollers extends through the horizontal plane containing the longitudinal axis of the stitch-finger blade 24. With the opposed peripheries of the feed-rollers 28 and 29 so disposed, the pull exerted on the seam by the feedrollers is axially of the stitch-finger 23, thus effecting a stripping of the stitches off the stitchfinger and a uniform feed of the material through the machine. Beneath the opposed cylindrical portions of the feed-rollers 28 and 29 the peripheries thereof are beveled or relieved to provide clearance permitting the convenient downward withdrawal of the stocking blank from between the feed-rollers when finishing the seaming of the welt or top of the stocking. It will be understood that the feed-roller 29 is carried on the outer feed-cup shaft sleeve I4 and that the usual spring which yieldingly biases the feedcup l2 toward the feed-cup II also functions to maintain the feed-roller 29 in yielding contact with the feed-roller 28. The adjustments afforded each of the feed-rollers allow for manufacturing tolerances and for properly positioning the two feed-rollers relativel to each other.

As is customary, hosiery seaming machines of the present type are provided with a chain cutting knife by which the thread-chain formed between successively stitched stockings can be severed. In the present machine a cutter 48 is suitably attached to the bracket 33 which supports the inner feed-roller. It has been discovered that the thin stocking material has a tendency to adhere to one or the other of the resilient feed-rollers 28 and 29 on the discharge side thereof, and in so doing is likely to be wrapped around the feed-roller and torn or otherwise damaged. To preclude this, each feedroller is fitted with a stripper or guard 49 (Figs. 10 and 11) which separates the thin stocking material from the resilient roller. When mounted on the feed-roller, the sheet-metal body portion of the stripper 49 is disposed in close proximity to the periphery of the feed-roller, the upper limb of the stripper being apertured, as at 49, to embrace the head of the stud 3| or 32 and the lower limb being apertured at 49" to receive the lower end of the stud 3| or 32, whereby the shoulder on the stud clamps the stripper in proper set position.

Figs' 8 and 9 illustrate a modification of the bracket :38 for supporting theputerieed roller.29. In Figs. 8 and 9 it will be seen-that the supporting bracket is composed of two parts "50 and i5! hinged together by a pin 52. Thelower part 5E is biased into a position in which the outer .feed-, roller 29 opposes the innerieed-roller .28 by a leaf-spring 53, movement of the lower part 59 being limited by a stop shoulder 54 (Fig. 9) on the lower part contacting the upper part '51.. It will be understood that with the modified form of supporting bracket the outer feed-roller '29 can be manually separated from the inner 'feed roller 28 independently of the separation of the two feed-cups ll and 12. Although not shown it will be obvious that a 'treadle or knee-shift device can be connected to the lower part 50 of the-supporting bracket, whereby the feed-rollers can The conveniently separated.

'From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that I have devised a puller-feed mechanism for a cup-feed sewing machine, which mechanism is exceedingly simple to manufacture and use. Also, as a result of its mode of actuation, it can be readily'a'pplied to existing sewing machines with a minimum of modification of the machines.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

1. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a horizontally disposed endwise reciprocatory needle, opposed feed-cups disposed below the path of reciprocation of said needle for advancing work past-said stitch-forming mechanism, pull-feed mechanism including opposed work-engaging member-s disposed at the work-discharge side of said feed-cups for engagement with opposite sides of the work,-and.driving means including a belt for actuating at least one of said work-engaging members.

2. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a horizontal-1y disposed endwise reciprocatory needle, opposed feed-cups disposed below the path of reciprocation of said needle for advancing work past said stitch-forming mechanism, pull-feed mechanism including opposed work-engaging members disposed at the work-discharge side of said feed-cups for engagement with opposite sides of the work, and driving means including a belt connecting one of said feed-cups with at least one of said workengaging members.

3. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a horizontally disposed endwise reciprocatory needle, opposed feed-cups disposed below the path of reciprocation of said needle for advancing work past said stitch-forming mechanism, pull-feed mechanism including opposed work-engaging members disposed at the work-discharge side of said feed-cups for engagement with opposite sides of the work, and driving means including individual belts for actuating each of said work-engaging members.

4. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a horizontally disposed endwise reciprocatory needle, opposed feed-cups disposed below the path of reciprocation of said needle for advancing work past said stitch-forming mechanism, pull-feed mechanism including opposed work-engaging members disposed at the work-discharge side of said feed-cups for engagement with opposite sides of the work, and driving means including a belt for connecting one of said work-engaging members to one of said feedcups and a second belt for connecting the other of saidwork-engaging members to'the other of said "feed-cups.

5. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a horizontally disposed endwise reciprocatory needle, opposed feed-cups disposed.

below'the path of reciprocation of said needle :for advancing work past said stitch-forming mechanism, belt-driving pulleys coaxially arranged and rotatable with said feed-cups, pull-feed mechanism including driven opposed work-engaging rollers disposed at the work-discharge side of said feed-cups for engagement with opposite sides of the work, belt-driven pulleys coaxially arranged and rotatable with said pull-feed rollers, and a pair of belts connecting said belt-driving pulleys to said belt-driven pulleys.

6. In asewing machine, stitch-forming mechaanism including a horizontally disposed endwise reciprocatory-needle, opposed feed-cups disposed below the path of reciprocation of said needle for engagement with opposite sides of the work, pullfeed mechanism including driven opposed workengaging members disposed at the work-discharge side of said feed-cups for engagement with opposite sides of the work, and individual driving means for driving each of said workengaging members.

"7. In 'a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a horizontally endwise reciprocatcry needle, opposed feed-cups rotatable about vertically disposed axes for advancing work past said stitch-forming mechanism, supporting mean-s providing for separation of said feed-cups .for introduction and removal of the work, sop-- arable opposed pull-feed rollers disposed at the work-discharge side of said feed-cups, driving means for relatively rotating said feed-rollers, and a unitary operator-controlled mechanism for effecting separation of said feed-cups and feedrollers simultaneously.

8. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a horizontally disposed endwise reciprocatory needle, separable feed-cups disposed below the path of reciprocation of said needle for advancing work past said stitch-forming mechanism, shiftable means supporting one of said feed-cups for separation from the other of said feed-cups, pull-feed mechanism including opposed work-engaging members disposed at the work-discharge side of said feed-cups, means for supporting said work-engaging members and including a bracket carrying one of said workengaging members and attached to said feedcup shiftable supporting means, whereby separation of the feed-cups will eflect a simultaneous separation of said work-engaging members, and driving connections for actuating at least one of said work-engaging members.

9. A sewing machine having a frame, stitchforming mechanism including a horizontally disposed endwise reciprocatory needle, opposed feedcups disposed below the path of reciprocation of said needle for advancing work past said stitch-forming mechanism, a tiltable member pivoted on said frame and supporting one of said feed-cups, pull-feed mechanism including opposed work-engaging members disposed at the work-discharge side of said feed-cups, a bracket secured to said tiltable member for supporting at least one of said work-engaging members, and driving connections for actuating at least one of said work-engaging members.

10. A sewing machine having a frame, stitchforming mechanism including a horizontally disposed endwise reciprocatory needle, opposed feed cups disposed below the path of reciprocation of said needle for advancing work past said stitchforming mechanism, a movable member mounted on said frame and supporting one of said feed-cups, pull-feed mechanism including opposed work-engaging rollers disposed at the work-discharge side of said feed-cups, a bracket attached to said frame and carrying one of said work-engaging rollers, a second bracket secured to said movable member and carrying the other of said work-engaging rollers, and driving connections for actuating at least one of said workengaging rollers.

11. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a horizontally disposed endwise reciprocatory needle, opposed feed-cups disposed below the path of reciprocation of said needle for advancing work past said stitch-forming mechanism, belt-driving pulleys integral with said feed-cups, pull-feed mechanism including driven work-engaging rollers disposed at the work-discharge side of said feed-cups for engagement with opposite sides of the work, beltdriven pulleys integral with said work-engaging rollers, and a pair of belts connecting said belt-driving pulleys to said belt-driven pulleys.

12. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a horizontally disposed endwise reciprocatory needle, opposed resilient feed-cups disposed below the path of reciprocation of said. needle for advancing work past said stitch-forming mechanism, and pull-feed mechanism includ ing opposed resilient work-engaging members disposed at the work-discharge side of said feedcups for engagement with opposite sides of the work.

ing a frame supporting a pair of opposed feedcups for advancing work through the machine, comprising opposed work-engaging rollers, supporting bracket means for said rollers, and roller actuating connections including a belt for opera- 13. A pull-feed device for sewing machines havtivelyconnecting at least one of said rollers to one of said feed-cups.

14. A pull-feed device for sewing machines having a frame supporting a pair of opposed feed-cups for advancing work through the machine, comprising opposed work-engaging rollers, supporting bracket means for said rollers having capacity providing for adjustment of said rollers relatively to each other and. to said feed-cups, and driving connections for actuating said rollers.

15. A pull-feed device for sewing machines having a frame supporting a pair of opposed feed-cups for advancing work through the machine, comprising opposed work-engaging rollers, supporting bracket. means for said rollers, driving connections for actuating said rollers, and guard means associated with said rollers to preclude wrapping of the work about said rollers.

16. A pull-feed device for sewing machines having a frame supporting a pair of opposed feed-cups for advancing work through the machine, comprising opposed work-engaging rollers, supporting bracket means for said rollers, driving connections for actuating said rollers, and guard means including a sheet-metal stripper disposed in close proximity to the workengaging periphery of at least one of said rollers to preclude wrapping of the work about said roller.

17. A pull-feed device for hosiery seaming machines having a frame supporting opposed feedcups for advancing the work through the machine, comprising a pair of opposed work-engaging rollers, supporting means for said rollers including a bracket hingedly mounted on said frame, a spring for biasing said bracket in a direction to yieldingly maintain said rollers in work-engaging relation, and driving connections for actuating said rollers.

- HANS HACKLANDER.

No references cited. 

